a plausible explanation for

USAGE SUMMARY

This phrase is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are introducing an explanation that you think makes sense or fits the facts. For example: "A plausible explanation for the rise in unemployment is the pandemic."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This fact makes PSCs a plausible explanation for equable climates.

Harvard University

This provides a plausible explanation for Electrolux's failed experiment.

Harvard Business Review

A plausible explanation for this finding is proposed.

Polymer

It seemed a plausible explanation for blinding pain.

The New York Times

This shift in the bound-peptide repertoire is a plausible explanation for drug-induced hypersensitivity.

Nature

That would be a plausible explanation for the apparently contradictory results.

Nature

But no one has offered a plausible explanation for the assaults.

The New York Times

"That's certainly a plausible explanation for the spike in African-American turnout.

The New York Times

But other scientists say they have a plausible explanation for why ezetimibe may cause cancer.

The New York Times

The isoflavone discovery offered a plausible explanation for how black cohosh works.

The New York Times - Magazine

Plant processing could have been a plausible explanation for hominin presence at FLK N.

Quaternary Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a plausible explanation for" when introducing a reason or cause that is likely to be true but requires further investigation or confirmation.

Common error

Avoid presenting a "plausible explanation for" something as a definite fact or conclusion, especially when there's limited evidence. Clearly indicate that it's one potential explanation among others.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a plausible explanation for" functions as a noun phrase that introduces a reason or cause that seems likely to be true. It often sets the stage for further discussion or analysis. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

54%

News & Media

31%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a plausible explanation for" serves as an entry point into understanding why something might be the case. As identified by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically sound and broadly applicable, appearing frequently in scientific, news, and business contexts. When employing this phrase, remember to present the explanation as a credible possibility supported by available evidence, but not necessarily a definitive conclusion. Alternatives like "a credible rationale for" or "a believable justification for" can add nuance depending on the intended emphasis. Use this phrase to invite consideration and further exploration of potential causes and reasons.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a credible rationale for

Replaces "explanation" with "rationale", emphasizing the logical basis of the reason given and strengthens the aspect of trustworthiness.

a believable justification for

Substitutes "explanation" with "justification", highlighting the act of defending or supporting an action or decision while keeping the sense of credibility.

a tenable account for

Uses "account" instead of "explanation", suggesting a narrative or description of events and changes "plausible" with "tenable" which means defensible or maintainable.

a reasonable basis for

Replaces "explanation" with "basis", focusing on the foundation or support for a claim or action and swaps "plausible" with "reasonable", indicating a logical or sensible foundation.

a feasible hypothesis for

Changes "explanation" to "hypothesis", framing it as a proposed explanation based on limited evidence, and replaces "plausible" with "feasible", highlighting the practicality or possibility of the explanation.

a sound interpretation of

Employs "interpretation" instead of "explanation", suggesting an explanation derived from understanding something in a particular way and also utilizes "sound" to highlight the explanation's validity.

a defensible rationale for

Combines "rationale" to mean underlying reason, with "defensible", indicating that the reason can be justified or defended against criticism.

a logical reason for

Uses "reason" instead of "explanation", focusing on the cause or justification for something, and replaces "plausible" with "logical", emphasizing the rational or coherent nature of the reason.

a convincing story for

Substitutes "explanation" with "story", framing the explanation as a narrative or account, and replaces "plausible" with "convincing", highlighting the ability of the story to persuade or impress.

a valid theory for

Changes "explanation" to "theory", positioning it as a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world, and also utilizes "valid" to highlight the explanation's accuracy.

FAQs

How can I use "a plausible explanation for" in a sentence?

Use "a plausible explanation for" to introduce a reason that seems likely or credible, but may not be definitively proven. For example: "A plausible explanation for the company's success is their innovative marketing strategy."

What are some alternatives to "a plausible explanation for"?

You can use alternatives like "a credible rationale for", "a believable justification for", or "a reasonable basis for" depending on the specific context.

What makes an explanation "plausible"?

A plausible explanation is one that appears reasonable and likely to be true, based on the available evidence and logical reasoning. It doesn't necessarily mean it's the definitive answer, but it's a credible possibility.

How does "a plausible explanation for" differ from "a definitive explanation for"?

"A plausible explanation for" suggests a possible, but not certain, reason. "A definitive explanation for", on the other hand, implies a conclusive and undisputed reason that has been proven or confirmed.